A couple of questions on the grand canyon

We will be travelling to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on our trip (after visiting Zion NP). I have two questions on this part of the trip:

1) How screwed are we if we don't make reservations months in advance for lodging? We know the approximate week we will be there, but to nail it down to a day this early in the planning is impossible.

2) I have read that the road to the north rim is closed until "Mid-May". How often does this closure extend to "the end of may"? This is the time when we will be visiting (it is highly doubtful that we will be there for Memorial Day weekend. Our visit will probably be earlier than that).

I hope asking all these questions over the last couple of weeks is ok. I can't really contribute much to other people's questions because this one will be our first road trip (hence the billions of questions).

It all depends on snow, as far as the closures go for North Rim. And when it comes to getting a room at the Canyon, yeah, its pretty difficult if you don't reserve months in advance... and I do mean many months. Though, you should check with a travel agent for availblility.

That's why it's close to Vegas

Originally Posted by rodie4

I have read that the road to the north rim is closed until "Mid-May". How often does this closure extend to "the end of may"?

It is the nature of averages that half the time the north rim will be open before mid-May and half the time it won't open until after mid-May. You can't tell now which it will be this year, so you're taking a gamble and the earlier you plan to get there, the more the odds favor the park still being closed. On the other hand, this early in the season, you are far less likely to find the lodge, cabins and/or campsites all booked up months in advance.

Originally Posted by rodie4

I hope asking all these questions over the last couple of weeks is ok. I can't really contribute much to other people's questions because this one will be our first road trip (hence the billions of questions).

Don't sell yourself short. You're asking questions that others have but aren't asking, and I'm sure that they're happy to see the replies as well.

Canyon accommodation alternatives

For the North Rim, you have several possibilities for lodging. First of all, you may luck out and get a room at the North Rim Lodge (even later in the Spring). If not, try the lodge at Jacob Lake second, then there are a couple of possibilties at Vermillion Cliffs, Marble Canyon or Lee's Ferry area. Even closer to Jacob Lake, is a lodge called "Cliff Dweller's." Or Fredonia, AZ or Kanab Utah have plenty of choices. Farthest away is Page, AZ. But none of these are so far as would make day trips to the North Rim impossible.

By the way, this area is one of the most isolated and beautiful in Arizona. You're going to enjoy it.